Aeroplane flying-machine.



T. H. GIGNILLIAT. AEROPLANE FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED D3013, 190s.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908* 4. SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Svweutoz Witnesses T. H. GIGNILLIAT.

AEROPLANE FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.13, 1906.

906,406. Patented Dec. 8, 1908 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

aq Qcmmw T. H. GIGNILLIAT.

AEROPLANE FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED D130. 13, 1906.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

4 SHEETS-$HEBT 3 T. H. GIGNILLIAT.

AEROPLANE FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED D3013, 1906.

906,406. Patented Dec. 8, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 I I I WI blesses THOMAS H. GIGNILLIAT, OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

AESROBLAHE FLYING-MACHINE.

No. sconce.

Specification 0! Letters I'Eutent.-

Patented Dec. e, 1908.

Application filed December s, 190s. seen a... 847,672.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. GIGNIL- .LIAT, acitizen of the United Statearesiding in Savannah, county of Chatham, and State of Georgia, have invented certain Improvements in .Aeroplane- Flying-Machines, of which-the following is a specification.

My invention relates to aeronautic machines and more especiall to that type of flying machines designate as a roplanes.

The object of my inventio is to enable men to soar in the air, and to this end, my invention consists of one or more main or soaring aeroplanes of a peculiar construction, propelled by a plurality of smaller acroplanes, as hereinafter. described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the dr'awings:Figure 1 is a diagrammatic rear elevation of the complete machine, the pro )elling aeroplanes being oper supporting the some.

ated by a sma motor; Fig. 2 is a plan v1ew; Fig. 3 is an end view of the same, showing the machine on launching chute; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic rear elevation of a modification, showing the propelling aeroplanes operated by foot; Fig. 5 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 6 is an end view thereof; Fi 7 is a )erspective view, some of the smaller aeroplanes on the right hand side being dropped down to show the frame; Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the platform; Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the supporting wheels of the platform; Fig. 10 is a detail of the framing, showing diagonal bracing with wires; Fig. 11 is a detail plan view of a modified arrangement of the smaller aero lanes; and Fig. 12 is a perspective detail s owing the effectof the air pressure on the top of the smaller aeroplanes. Referring to the drawings, in which the same reference characters refer to the same ip1arts in all views, the letter Arepresents xed, main or soaring aeroplanes of the box kite variety, and F, F and F, represent the well known box kite frame belonging to the same, made of aluminum, wood or other suitable material, possessing sufficient light ness, combined with the requisite strength. The two middle pairs of vertlcal standards F of this frame, are longer than any of the others, and extend upwards and downwards, as shown. From the upper extremities of these standards run guys G to the extremities of the aeroplanes A for the purpose of tremities of'the prolonged vertical standards ()n the lower ex-' F is attached a platform 0, to which are atnected y rods L which are detachable, and

are provided with hinges M near the main aeroplane. By detaching the rods L and swinging the extended ortion of the two center frames F outwar and downward to the positions shown by the dotted lines F, Fig.4, the machine becomes more compact and can be more readily housed. The ver tical standards F are connected by fore and aftties F, placed at suitable intervals as requircd to furnish suiiicient strength to the structure. These horizontal fore and aft strips F extend both forward and back of the vertical standards F for the purpose of supporting the extended portions of the aeroplanes A, as shown in Figs. 2,5, 7, and 9.

In the main form of my invention, de-. signed to be operated by a small motor 0, of suitable type, the horizontal fore and aft strips F extend far enough back. to su port secondary fixed aeroplanes B, whic are placed far enough to clear the pro eller N, and serve to balance the weight of t e motor 0, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Each pair of vertical standards F, together I .box kite frame thus formed is strengthened by diagonally bracing every square with wire, including all those squares shown in the side elevation and plan, as well as those shown in front and rear elevation, as shown clearly in Fig. 10. Screws P are set into the frame near the corners, with their heads slightly profl'ecting. Around these projecting heads, t 1e wire braces R are twisted and then drawn taut dia onally across the openings. Any slack lei t in the diagonal wire braces Rafter it is thus stretched, is taken up by other adjusting wires R stretched from the center of said diagonal wire brace R to the corresponding diagonal wire brace on the opposite side of the box kite frame, or by some other convenient adjusting device.

, As shown in Fig. 7, the large fixedsoaring aero lanes A are made up of a number of sma er underlapping aeroplanes e. I The said smaller aeroplanes e consist of strips of cloth or other suitable material, tacked or otherwise secured to one edge of spline of wood or other suitable material, which stiflen the said smaller aeroplanes. .The edges which have the splines s tacked to them are thus rendered more rigid than the other edge of the said smaller aeroplanes e, and when the wind blows on top of the said small aeroplane, the free edges bend down and causes it to spill the wind, and each of the free edges of the small aeroplanes e, bending downwards, the large aeroplanes A, B and B, which are composed of smaller aeroplanes 6, are broken up into a number of suraces, and, thus, do not receive the force of the wind. In Fig. 7 these smaller aeroplanes e are shown running from front toback. They may run from side to side, if desired, as shown in Fig. 11, or at an angle. The essential feature of this part of the invention is that the said smaller underlapping aeroplanes e be so arranged that they shall close together and form one continuous surface, as' shown in Fig. 7, when the air resses on the underside, and that they shal separate and form a number of surfaces and let the air spill between them, when the air and B are made up of the small aeroplanes e, when thewind presses on the under side of the flying machine, the after edges of all. the saidlarge aeroplanes, A,.B and B, bend upwards- The pressure thus produced can be resolved into two parts, one of which is forward. Thus, the flying machine must have. a forward motion whenever the air presses on the under side of same. The air always presses on the under side of the machine when descending.

It, therefore, follows that whenever my flying machine is descending, it will have a forward, as well as a downward motion. This adds to the usefulness of my invention, as it removes the danger which attends aeroplanes, in case they lose their forward motion and become unmanageable froln consequent loss of steering power, and the danger from a broken propelling mechanism is also lessened; my

machine will always retain its forward motion, and, therefore, its manageability be so pro ortioned to the weight, that the 1 velocity will not be dangerous downwar Running across the backs of the splines s,

which extend to the rear and secured to them with a strong thread or by other suit able means, are long thin stringers a, which keep the after ends of the splines all on the same level, and make them mutually strengthen each other. The splines s are so spaced in every instance, that the distance between them is less than the Width of the attached aeroplanes e. The loose edges of each of the small aeroplanes e hang down and underlap the splines s of each of the adjoining small aeroplanes e. When the air blows up against them, they rise and close against the under sides of the adjoining splines s. The splines s and stringers a support them so that they cannot slip up pelling aeroplanes Bare connected with the main body of the machines by rods P the forward ends of which are hinged to-the for-.

ward arts of the main frame, the lower pair 0' rods being fitted with a cross-bar R also serves as a pedal by which the operator presses the aeroplanes B down with his foot. The upper pair of rods P are connected with the lower pair of rods by vertical rods which are hinged at both upper and lower ends of the said rods'l, and which, therefore, cause the upper and lower rods P to move simultaneously up and down, and to keep parallel Attached to the lower aeroto each other. plans B are two small wheels which keep same clear of the ground when the aeroplane is on the ground.

In Fig. 6 the propelling aeroplanes B are 110 shown-1n their upper position and, when "pressed down by the operator pressing his foot on cross-bar R they are in a position.

shown by the dotted lines, and the rods P take the positions shown by dotted lines. After the operator presses the aeroplanes B down to their new positions they are drawn up again to their old positions B by elastic straps U, (see Fig. 6), which are secured at their lower ends to the bars P and at their upper end to the main frame of the aero- P The machine is steered in an upandrdown direction by the operator balancing himself on the platform. It is steered to the right or left by the rudders Z at either side of the machine, (see Figs. 2 and 5), hinged to the frame of the main aeroplanes at X. They have cords or rods W attached to their after edges and leading from there to the platform on the cord or rod W, to the right, the rudder thus prevent the machine from power or the motor, as shown.

causes the said a at that end of the machine is swung so as to make an angle with the line of motion of the m aehine. This drags that end of the machine and causes the aeroplane to swing around in that direction. The machine is likewise turned in the opposite direction if the operator pulls on the cord or rod W to the left. The chute Y is built at an incline sharp enough to give the flying machine the requisite velocity for the start. The lower end is tipped up as shown, so that the aeroplane is moving in a direction inclined upwards at the moment of leaving the chute.

The method of operatin my flying machine is as follows:The ying machine is placed on the chute Y and the operator takes his place on the platform 0. He allows the machine to run freely down the said chute on the wheels E. As the flying machine gets to the lower end of the chute, the upward inclination of this end of the chute causes the flying machine to change from a downward glide to an upward glide and it leaves the chute with a gliding motion having an upward inclination in the air. This motion acuired by the speed of the machine on the inc ine under the force of gravity is continued by the use of the propelling power, either foot The wheels Enot only serve'as rollers on which the flying machine runs down the chute, but also for the purpose of landing the machine on the ground without damage at the end of the flight. The front wheels E are of greater diameter than the after wheels, thus causing the aeroplanes to be inclined to the line of motion and the air to press on their under side whenever the flying machine is rolling on the said wheels E. On the way down the chute, the rollers 7, on the sides of the platform 0, (see Figs. 8 and 9), take against the side pieces 8, of the chute Y and keep the flying machine from running off the said chute. When nearing the ground at any time, should the flying machine ti to one side or the other, the wheels V at either end of the machineroll along the round and eing damaged by a sudden stop or jar at one end.

In working the foot power the operator presses down on the crossbar R this presses the aeroplanes B downwards and backwards,

causing a resultant pressure forward and upwards, which propels the machine through the air. The forward resultant of this pressure is increased by the fact that the after edges of the aeroplanes B are flexible. This ter edges to bend upwards as the said aeroplanes B are pressed downwards, and the pressure on their after edges becomes almost directly forward, and causes the whole flying machine to move in a forward direction.

When the pressure is applied to the crossupwards, this will result in the whole flying.

machine gliding upwards; should he wish to descend he moves a little forward, this causes the aeroplanes to tip down in front and the machine glides down. Should the operator tip the machine so far down in front as to cause the air to strike the aeroplanes A on top instead of underneath, the small aeroplanes e separate, as shown in Fig. 12, and the wind spills between them. The center of gravity being near the platform that part of the machine instantly swings under the light super-structure and the machine thus automatically rights itself and the pressure returns instantly to the under side of the aeroplanes where it should be. If the operator wishes to steer to the right he pulls on the right tiller rope W, which swings the rudder Z on that side of the machine at an angle with the line of motion and causes a drag on thatside of the machine, which swings the whole flying machine in that direction. If the operator wishes to steer to the left he pulls on the left tiller rope or rod W and leaves the right tiller ro )e alone.

l claim as my invent1on:-

1.' In a flying machine, the combination or one or morefixed aeroplanes, each com )osed of a number of smaller flexible aeroplanes, adapted to close together and form one. continuous surface when the wind presses on the under side, and to open and form a number of separate surfaces when the wind blows on the top side, separate splines to which said smaller aeroplanes are attached, and stringers crossing said splines, whereby the free edges of said flexible aeroplanes are preventedfrom slipping between the s lines when the wind presses on the under si es, and propelling mechanism, substantially as described.

2. In a flying machine, the combination of one or more fixed aeroplanes eachcomposed of a number of smaller aeroplanes adapted to close and form together a continuous surface when the air presses on the under side, and

'to open and form anumber of separate surfaces when the aupresses on the top side, separate splines to wluch said smaller aeroplanes are attached, and stringers crossing said s )lines, whereby the free edges of said flexib e aeroplanes are prevented from slipping between the splines when the wind presses on the under sides, the after edges of the saidfixed aeroplanes adapted to bend upwards when the wind presses on the under side, and progzlling mechanism, substantially as descri d. a

3-. In a flying machine, the combination of number of smaller aeroplanes ada ted to open and close,.the after edges of sai propelling aeroplanes being adapted to bend upwards under thepressure of upward air, anda platform onwhlch an 0 erator-may stand, and provided with whee s -forstarting and landing, substantially as described.

- 5. In a flying machine, the combinationof one or more fixedaeroplanes, each composed of a number of smaller underlapping aeroplanes adapted to readily 0 en and close with a frame provided with w eels near the middle of same, for starting and landing, and with one or more wheels at each end of said frame to support the ends of said frame on the ground in case of the machine ti ping to one side or another in starting orlhndlng, substantially as described. 7 6. In a flying machine, the combination of one or more fixed aeroplanes, com osed of a number of smaller aeroplanes a apted to form one continuous surface when the air presses on their under side, and to separate and form many separate surfaces when the air presses on the to side, and means for propelling the same t rough the air, with a ox frame rising centrally above the said vaeroplanes, and guiyrs runninglfrom the upper part of said raised ame to t e outer parts of said aeroplanes, for the urpose of sup ortsurface when the wind presses on the under side, and to open and form a number of se arate surfaces when the mud presses on t 'e to side and a. luralit of ro elling aero-' P i 3 P P planes provide with a number of smaller aeroplanes, each of the said smaller'aeroplanes consisting of a long narrow strip of cloth or other suitable material, and a stiff- 'described.

8. In a flying machine, the combination of one or more fixed aeroplanes, each composed of a number of smaller aeroplanes adapted to close together and form one continuous surface when the wind presses on the under side,

' and to'open and form a number of se arate surfaces when the wind presses on t e top side, the said fixed aeroplanes being sup-' ported by a box kite frame and projectin over the. edges of said frame, the edges of sai fixed aerop anes rojectin to the rear bein adaptedto bend upwar s when the Win presses on the under side, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

T OMAS H. GIGNILLIAT. Witnesses:

ISAAC LEWIS,

W. R. HEWLETT.

'ening spline attached to one edge of each of said smaller aeroplanes, all substantially as 

